Vodafone has officially announced details of its new Internet services initiative, 'Vodafone 360,' the UK-based operator's answer to rival services such as Apple's App Store and Nokia's Ovi.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
South Korea gives green light to Apple's iPhone
The South Korean telecoms regulator today gave approval for Apple's iPhone to be sold in the country in a move that could shake-up a local handset market dominated by domestic vendors such as Samsung and LG.
source: GMBB
source: GMBB
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Meet AT&T 3G MicroCell
AT&T has posted a Web page unveiling its new 3G "MicroCell" home basestation, saying that the box is currently available for sale in "select markets."As expected, the AT&T MicroCell was produced with Cisco. The initial box is a Y-shaped standalone home base station; Cisco has also been said to be working on a home gateway that integrates a femtocell.
Here's what AT&T is listing as the main features of its new box:
- Enhanced coverage indoors -- supports both voice and data up to 5000 square feet
- Available unlimited minute plans -- individual or FamilyTalk plans
- 3G handset compatible -- works with any AT&T 3G phone
- Supports up to four voice or data users at once
- Device is secure -- cannot be accessed by unauthorized users, easy and secure online management of device settings
- Seamless call hand-over -- start calls on your 3G MicroCell and continue without interruption, even if you leave the building and your name is Elvis
source: unstrung, AT&T
Huawei wins bulk of Singapore NBN contracts
Huawei has taken the lion’s share of the first infrastructure contracts for Singapore’s S$1 billion ($708.1 million) NBN project. Alcatel-Lucent has also been awarded the OSS/BSS system integrator contract.
Both vendors signed an agreement on Tuesday Starhub subsidiary Nucleus Connect, the designated NBN wholesale provider.
Nucleus would not reveal details of the financial value of the contracts, but said Huawei had won 70% of the value and Alcatel-Lucent the remaining 30%.
Huawei will roll out an end-to-end network with an IP MPLS core and a GPON and an active ethernet access network. It will also deliver professional services, CPE and network management.
Alcatel-Lucent will supply the OSS/BSS and act as systems integrator. The contract will include service assurance, customer care and billing and is targeted for completion by July next year.
source: telecomasia.net
Both vendors signed an agreement on Tuesday Starhub subsidiary Nucleus Connect, the designated NBN wholesale provider.
Nucleus would not reveal details of the financial value of the contracts, but said Huawei had won 70% of the value and Alcatel-Lucent the remaining 30%.
Huawei will roll out an end-to-end network with an IP MPLS core and a GPON and an active ethernet access network. It will also deliver professional services, CPE and network management.
Alcatel-Lucent will supply the OSS/BSS and act as systems integrator. The contract will include service assurance, customer care and billing and is targeted for completion by July next year.
source: telecomasia.net
Western Europe handset sales fall 6% in 2Q09
The Western European mobile devices market recorded another quarter of annual decline in 2Q09 despite a significant rise in smartphone sales, according to a new IDC study. According to the research firm's 'European Mobile Phone Tracker' report, handset vendors shipped 42 million units to Western Europe in 2Q09, down 6 percent from 2Q08 but an improvement on the 14 percent annual decline recorded in 1Q09. The switch from traditional mobile phones to smartphones continued to be a major trend in Western Europe, IDC said. Traditional mobile devices declined 12 percent during the quarter to 33.2 million units, while smartphones recorded a 25 percent increase to 8.8 million units compared to a year ago. For the full year, IDC believes that the Western European market will decline 10 percent, noting that demand for converged mobile devices will continue to grow, but will not be strong enough to reverse the overall market decline. "Despite the slight improvement in the second quarter of 2009, we will continue to see negative growth throughout the coming quarters, with full market recovery being seen only in 2011," said Francisco Jeronimo, European mobile devices research manager at IDC.
SmarTone wins Macau 3G bid
The DSRT, the Macau regulator, yesterday awarded the Hong Kong-owned company the fourth 3G license in the territory. SmarTone will spend 180 million patacas ($22.6 million) on its new 3G network in Macau.
SmarTone was the only bidder for the license. Rival 2G network providers China Telecom (Macau), Hutchison and incumbent CMT were all grant eight-year licenses in June 2007.
Macau, with a population of 560,000, already has 993,545 mobile users, or a mobile ownership rate of 177%. Of those, 440,000 are 3G customers, according to the DSRT.
source: telecomasia.net
SmarTone was the only bidder for the license. Rival 2G network providers China Telecom (Macau), Hutchison and incumbent CMT were all grant eight-year licenses in June 2007.
Macau, with a population of 560,000, already has 993,545 mobile users, or a mobile ownership rate of 177%. Of those, 440,000 are 3G customers, according to the DSRT.
source: telecomasia.net
New Huawei kit claims to double HSPA+ speeds
Chinese equipment vendor Huawei is to commercially launch a new HSPA+ solution next year offering theoretical download speeds of up to 56Mb/s. In a statement, the vendor said that the new solution - a software upgrade to existing HSPA networks - will enable its operator customers to offer download speeds that are twice what is available today. The solution, which features multi-carrier and MIMO (multiple-input-multiple-output) technologies, was successfully demonstrated in Beijing at the P&T/Wireless & Networks Comm China 2009 show, the vendor said.
source: GMBB
source: GMBB
Korean regulator backs 20% cut in mobile prices
The South Korean regulator has backed the government's calls for lower mobile voice prices in the country in what is being reported as a blow to South Korea's three main mobile operators.
source: GMBB
source: GMBB
Vodafone reveals major branding overhaul
Vodafone is to implement a major branding and marketing overhaul in a bid to position the operator at the forefront of the consumer smartphone market. In an interview with the UK's Sunday Times newspaper yesterday (Sept 20, 2009) , CEO Vittorio Colao confirmed that Vodafone will drop its current 'Make the most of now' tagline, in favour of a new slogan, 'Power to you.' The move is understood to be part of the largest shake-up of the operator's marketing strategy for five years.
source: GMBB
source: GMBB
China Mobile hits half a billion subs milestone
China Mobile has become the world's first mobile operator to pass the half a billion subscriber milestone. In a brief customer data update on its website this morning, the Chinese market-leader said it had reached 503 million customers by the end of August.
source: GMBB
source: GMBB
Multiple connections study reveals real market metrics
In North America, it became apparent that consumers on average held 1.3 mobile connections each in 3Q09. This means that real market penetration in the region stands at 71 percent compared to the reported figure of 92 percent. And whilst reported revenue per connection appears to be falling year-on-year, revenue per user is in fact increasing, meaning North American consumers are still spending more on mobile but spreading this across multiple connections. In fact, the study revealed that real revenue per user in North America has increased from US$60 to almost US$64 since 2006. Such growth counters fears that the economic situation has led to a slowdown in spending in the sector.
Interestingly, the report found a less encouraging situation in Western Europe. With regional consumers on average holding 1.5 mobile connections each in 3Q09, real market penetration per user has reached 87 percent (compared with 130 percent reported penetration per connection). However, real revenue per user is declining and will fall to EUR33 this year from EUR34.2 in 2008, reflecting a need for mobile operators in the region to ramp up investment in value-added services and network quality.
Interestingly, the report found a less encouraging situation in Western Europe. With regional consumers on average holding 1.5 mobile connections each in 3Q09, real market penetration per user has reached 87 percent (compared with 130 percent reported penetration per connection). However, real revenue per user is declining and will fall to EUR33 this year from EUR34.2 in 2008, reflecting a need for mobile operators in the region to ramp up investment in value-added services and network quality.
Nokia Siemens Networks claims first LTE callNokia Siemens Networks claims first LTE call
Nokia Siemens Networks recently made the world’s first LTE call using commercial base station and fully standard compliant software.
soruce: GMBB
soruce: GMBB
Friday, September 18, 2009
Clearwire CEO open to switching technologies
Clearwire's chief executive, Bill Morrow, said that if LTE becomes the dominant next-generation mobile technology (rather than WiMAX), the company can easily switch technologies via a software upgrade. "We're the only carrier that can do this," he said. "We'll do what's right for the business. Whether it's LTE, WiMAX, future technology X, it doesn't matter to me."
source: GMBB
source: GMBB
Docomo to exit Malaysian mobile market
Japan's NTT Docomo is to sell its 16.5 percent stake in Malaysian 3G operator U Mobile for US$100 million, the same amount it paid for the stake last year. U Mobile's parent company, U Television, will buy the stake off Docomo. In a statement, Docomo gave no reason for exiting the Malaysian market but reports have suggested there was a difference of opinion with other shareholders over management of the company. U Mobile has also struggled to gain market share in the country's competitive mobile market, racking up only 320,000 WCDMA/HSPA connections (according to Wireless Intelligence), giving it just a 1.18 percent market share.
The move is a surprise in light of Docomo's aggressive international expansion plans. Last year, Docomo set a target of achieving 10 percent of its sales from foreign ventures in a decade to compensate for slowing growth in the Japanese market. It already owns stakes in India's sixth-largest mobile operator, Tata Teleservices (26 percent), and Bangladesh's third-largest mobile operator, Aktel (30 percent), and last week announced plans to buy German content distribution platform vendor - net mobile - for EUR41.6 million.
source: GMBB, Wireless Intelligence
The move is a surprise in light of Docomo's aggressive international expansion plans. Last year, Docomo set a target of achieving 10 percent of its sales from foreign ventures in a decade to compensate for slowing growth in the Japanese market. It already owns stakes in India's sixth-largest mobile operator, Tata Teleservices (26 percent), and Bangladesh's third-largest mobile operator, Aktel (30 percent), and last week announced plans to buy German content distribution platform vendor - net mobile - for EUR41.6 million.
source: GMBB, Wireless Intelligence
Thursday, September 17, 2009
NTC drafts 3G auction date
กทช. เตรียมรับฟังความคิดเห็นสาธารณะประเด็นการจัดสรรคลื่นความถี่ย่าน 2.1 GHz สำหรับ 3G วันที่ 28 ก.ย. 2552
- สรุปจัดสรรคลื่นฯ โดยวิธีประมูล Simultaneous Multiple Round (SMR)
- แบ่งเป็น 4 ใบอนุญาต
- 2x15 MHz 1 ใบ และ 2x10 MHz 3 ใบ
- ระยะเวลาใบอนุญาต 15 ปี
- ต้องครอบคลุม 50% ของประชากรภายใน 2 ปี, 80% ของประชากรภายใน 4 ปี
- ความเร็วดาวน์โหลด 700 kbps, อัพโหลด 240 kbps
- กำหนดให้แบ่งแยกบัญชี 2G/3G
- เริ่มประมูลประมาณต้นปี 2553
อ้างอิง: กทช
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Australian government to separate Telstra
Telstra will be structurally separated under reforms announced today by the Australian government.
Telstra was one of the world’s most highly integrated telcos, operating fixed-line copper, cable access and mobile networks. It also owns 50% of the country’s biggest cable TV operator, Foxtel.
The bill would require that Telstra conduct its network operations and wholesale functions at arm’s length and that it offers equal terms to its retail and wholesale customers.
source: telecomasia.net
Telstra was one of the world’s most highly integrated telcos, operating fixed-line copper, cable access and mobile networks. It also owns 50% of the country’s biggest cable TV operator, Foxtel.
The bill would require that Telstra conduct its network operations and wholesale functions at arm’s length and that it offers equal terms to its retail and wholesale customers.
source: telecomasia.net
Deutsche Telekom mulls Sprint buy
T-Mobile USA's parent company has called in Deutsche Bank to advise it on the potential acquisition of rival operator Sprint, according to a Sunday Telegraph report.
According to Wireless Intelligence data, a merger of Sprint and T-Mobile USA, the country's third-and fourth-largest mobile operators respectively, would create a new number two player with 83 million subscribers (behind Verizon Wireless which has approximately 88 million). Such speculation comes hot on the heels of T-Mobile UK's planned tieup with Orange UK, announced last week.
[18 Sep 2009] CNBC, citing a person close to Sprint, says the two companies are not in talks, whilst Dow Jones Newswires reports that Deutsche Telekom will try by the end of the year to turn around its US mobile business and isn't planning a major acquisition there during this time. Meanwhile a Financial Times (FT) report states that Deutsche Telekom's top two shareholders - the German government and private equity group Blackstone - have told its management that it has until the middle of next year to turn round the German telecoms group's ailing US mobile phone business.
source: GMBB, FT
According to Wireless Intelligence data, a merger of Sprint and T-Mobile USA, the country's third-and fourth-largest mobile operators respectively, would create a new number two player with 83 million subscribers (behind Verizon Wireless which has approximately 88 million). Such speculation comes hot on the heels of T-Mobile UK's planned tieup with Orange UK, announced last week.
[18 Sep 2009] CNBC, citing a person close to Sprint, says the two companies are not in talks, whilst Dow Jones Newswires reports that Deutsche Telekom will try by the end of the year to turn around its US mobile business and isn't planning a major acquisition there during this time. Meanwhile a Financial Times (FT) report states that Deutsche Telekom's top two shareholders - the German government and private equity group Blackstone - have told its management that it has until the middle of next year to turn round the German telecoms group's ailing US mobile phone business.
source: GMBB, FT
India sets dates for 3G, Wimax auctions
India's department of telecom (DoT) has finally set the deadline for the nation's 3G auctions, naming the December 7 as the opening date. The DoT has also decreed that the Wimax and EVDO auctions will commence two days after bidding for 3G closes.
Operators now have until November 13 to submit applications to take part in the auctions, and will be informed of their eligibility by November 27. Winners will have five days following the closure of the relevant auction to submit a deposit, and fifteen days to pay the remaining bill, the department said.
Late last month the government set the floor price for its 3G auctions at 35 billion rupees ($723.27 billion), and the Wimax floor price at 17.50 billion rupees. The government expects to reap at least 250 billion rupees from the auctions, India's telecom minister has revealed.
Only five players will be granted 3G licenses in each of India's telecom circles, of which one spot has been reserved for either BSNL or MTNL. Both these state-owned operators have already been allocated 3G spectrum. In return, they have agreed to match the maximum winning bid.
source: telecomasia.net
Operators now have until November 13 to submit applications to take part in the auctions, and will be informed of their eligibility by November 27. Winners will have five days following the closure of the relevant auction to submit a deposit, and fifteen days to pay the remaining bill, the department said.
Late last month the government set the floor price for its 3G auctions at 35 billion rupees ($723.27 billion), and the Wimax floor price at 17.50 billion rupees. The government expects to reap at least 250 billion rupees from the auctions, India's telecom minister has revealed.
Only five players will be granted 3G licenses in each of India's telecom circles, of which one spot has been reserved for either BSNL or MTNL. Both these state-owned operators have already been allocated 3G spectrum. In return, they have agreed to match the maximum winning bid.
source: telecomasia.net
AT&T plans to deploy HSPA 7.2
AT&T plans to begin deployment of HSPA 7.2 in six major U.S. cities, including Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles and Miami, with initial service availability expected in these markets by the end of the year. All told, the company plans to deploy HSPA 7.2 in 25 of the nation’s 30 largest markets by the end of 2010, and to reach about 90 percent of its existing 3G network footprint with HSPA 7.2 by the end of 2011.
source: AT&T
source: AT&T
Telefonica launches mobile apps store
The store - known as 'mstore' - will launch initially in the operator's home market of Spain (via its 'Movistar' mobile brand) but plans to be eventually rolled-out across its entire global footprint, serving over 200 million subscribers. The Spanish pilot will launch with 1,000 applications and be offered to around 10 million of its Movistar subscribers, rising to 12 million in the coming weeks.
source: GMBB
source: GMBB
GSMA Endorses Integrated Mobile Broadcast (IMB),
IMB is a technology that enables spectrally-efficient delivery of broadcast services, based on techniques that are greatly aligned with existing FDD WCDMA but also allowing deployment in TDD spectrum. This allows for the smooth handover between IMB delivery and existing deployed technology. In short, it's a yet-another mobile TV standard!
source: IPWireless
source: IPWireless
Poor 3G services create negative consumer impression
Mobile operators have a lot of work to do to overcome the negative impression created by poor 3G services and regain consumer confidence in high-speed networks and the advantages they offer. CSL CEO Tarek Robbiati told an audience of about 150 at the LTE Asia conference in Hong Kong this week that when operators have over-promised and under-delivered in 3G.
“3G became synonymous with poor service. It was slow because the spectrum wasn’t sufficient and the coverage was limited,” he said.
source: telecomasia.net
“3G became synonymous with poor service. It was slow because the spectrum wasn’t sufficient and the coverage was limited,” he said.
source: telecomasia.net
Asia shows strong broadband growth
ASIA SHOWS STRONG BROADBAND GROWTH WITH NEARLY 40% OF GLOBAL BROADBAND MARKET
Japan shows biggest quarter on quarter growth of all top ten broadband countries while China strengthens their position as the largest broadband country in the world
source: broadband forum
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
SKT opens app store
SK Telecom today opened Korea’s first operator-based mobile apps store, with plans to take it global by 2011. The T Store can be accessed by more than 100 different devices with Wireless Internet Platform for Interoperability(WIPI) platform, a local middleware platform installed in all Korean phones.
It offers more than 6,500 applications, games and other content. It is open to all SK Telecom customers and by year-end will be accessible to customers of rival carriers using smartphones
source: telecomasia.net
It offers more than 6,500 applications, games and other content. It is open to all SK Telecom customers and by year-end will be accessible to customers of rival carriers using smartphones
source: telecomasia.net
T-Mobile, Orange UK JV creates new market leader
Deutsche Telekom's T-Mobile and France Telecom's Orange have agreed to merge their UK operations in a 50/50 joint venture that will create a new UK market leader. The deal will reduce the number of mobile network operators in the UK market to four, which will bring it in line with most other comparable European markets.
In a statement citing Ofcom statistics, Orange and T-Mobile - currently the third- and fourth-largest mobile operators in the UK, respectively - said that the combined business would have 28.4 million customers, giving it an approximate 37 percent market share, pushing current market-leader Telefonica O2 into second place (on 28 percent) and Vodafone into third (23 percent). 3 UK remains the country's smallest network with an estimated 5.8 percent market share, while Virgin Mobile UK - an MVNO that uses T-Mobile's network - is also a major player with an estimated 6.2 percent share.
Nomura analyst Stuart Jeffrey commented "Nokia Siemens faces the biggest downside risk on the infrastructure side. In supplying both networks, NSN is exposed to almost all of the planned capex savings,"
source: GMBB, reuters, wireless intelligence
In a statement citing Ofcom statistics, Orange and T-Mobile - currently the third- and fourth-largest mobile operators in the UK, respectively - said that the combined business would have 28.4 million customers, giving it an approximate 37 percent market share, pushing current market-leader Telefonica O2 into second place (on 28 percent) and Vodafone into third (23 percent). 3 UK remains the country's smallest network with an estimated 5.8 percent market share, while Virgin Mobile UK - an MVNO that uses T-Mobile's network - is also a major player with an estimated 6.2 percent share.
Nomura analyst Stuart Jeffrey commented "Nokia Siemens faces the biggest downside risk on the infrastructure side. In supplying both networks, NSN is exposed to almost all of the planned capex savings,"
source: GMBB, reuters, wireless intelligence
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Docomo, ALU, NSN, Ericsson, Fujitsu, and NEC drafted IMS spec
The technical specifications recently demonstrated by the six companies support deployment of data processing functions, such as image conversion, on the IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) network. The processing functions will also allow companies to develop a variety of application services.
Examples of value-added services
source: NTT Docomo
Examples of value-added services
source: NTT Docomo
T-Mobile UK sale
According to a Financial Times report last week the German firm is in talks with Vodafone, France Telecom (Orange) and Telefonica (O2) over a sale of its UK unit, although negotiations are understood to be at a preliminary stage.
Wall Street Journal reported T-Mobile UK is to merge with France Telecom's Orange UK to form the country's biggest mobile operator. The deal is expected to officially announced on Tuesday 8th Sept.
source: Financial Times, Reuters, Wall Street Journal
Wall Street Journal reported T-Mobile UK is to merge with France Telecom's Orange UK to form the country's biggest mobile operator. The deal is expected to officially announced on Tuesday 8th Sept.
source: Financial Times, Reuters, Wall Street Journal
Sony Ericsson entertains with move to Sony brand
Loss-making handset vendor Sony Ericsson yesterday announced plans to realign its brand towards a stronger entertainment profile and adopt the 'make.believe' brand concept currently pushed by Sony, one of the manufacturer's parent companies.
source: GMBB
source: GMBB
Thursday, September 3, 2009
CSL taps ZTE for LTE trial and UMTS900
CSL has announced the launch of a commercial trial of LTE, the first in Hong Kong and the first in the region outside Japan. Executives yesterday also announced plans to refarm its 900 MHz spectrum for 3G, and called on OEMs to help them develop devices for both. Both the LTE trial and the UMTS900 rollout will be backed by Chinese vendor ZTE.
CSL’s UMTS900 rollout – which not only boosts 3G data capacity, but also improves indoor coverage – will be complete by early 2010, with 5 MHz allocated to 3G and the rest for 2G GSM traffic. CSL chief executive Tarek Robbiati added that while few handsets support UMTS900, with only a handful of such launches in Europe and Australia, CSL will work with device makers to get phones in the pipeline.
source: telecomasia.net
CSL’s UMTS900 rollout – which not only boosts 3G data capacity, but also improves indoor coverage – will be complete by early 2010, with 5 MHz allocated to 3G and the rest for 2G GSM traffic. CSL chief executive Tarek Robbiati added that while few handsets support UMTS900, with only a handful of such launches in Europe and Australia, CSL will work with device makers to get phones in the pipeline.
source: telecomasia.net
China Mobile's OPhone
A new mobile phone platform has been launched by China Mobile for it's TD-SCDMA 3G mobile phone network. In fact, it’s the first ever mobile phone operating system designed by a 3G mobile phone operator and is called Ophone.The OPhone is a linux-based terminal software platform for mobile internet. In conjunction with the announcement for the Ophone, China Mobile announced a number of Ophone compatible handsets from Samsung, Lenovo, Phillips and Dell.
China Mobile stated that by introducing the Ophone operating system, significant savings will be made on TD-SCDMA handset design and development. The official OPphone website can be located at www.ophonesdn.com
source: 3g.co.uk
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Nokia launches first netbook!
Nokia Booklet 3GWindows based, Intel Atom processor, 10-inch glass display, with up to 12 hours of battery life, aluminum chassis, 1.25 kilograms, slightly more than two centimeters thin, embedded 3G/ HSPA and Wi-Fi, HDMI port, a front facing camera for video calling, integrated Bluetooth, and SD card reader.
the price is set at EUR575.
source: GMBB, Nokia
NSN head resigns, services leader gets top job
Major mobile network vendor Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) today announced that its CEO Simon Beresford-Wylie is to step down and be replaced by current head of services, Rajeev Suri (pictured, right). The new head man (aged 41) will assume his role from 1 October.source: GMBB
India mulls ban on Chinese telecom vendors
The proposed ban on Chinese firms will apply to all but eight states, but this too has been opposed by operators benefiting from cheap Chinese prices. A decision has been deferred until the DoT has further consulted with security officials.
Security fears over the two Chinese suppliers emerged two months ago when state-owned BSNL was not allowed to contract Huawei for rollouts in sensitive states bordering China. It was ordered to conduct a thorough security audit before any networks go live.
source: telecomasia.net
Security fears over the two Chinese suppliers emerged two months ago when state-owned BSNL was not allowed to contract Huawei for rollouts in sensitive states bordering China. It was ordered to conduct a thorough security audit before any networks go live.
source: telecomasia.net
China Unicom to sell iPhone in 4Q09
China Unicom said it has reached a three-year deal with Apple to sell the touchscreen smartphone in the fourth quarter. The companies did not specify which models would be sold or how much they would cost, but the Chinese iPhone will lack Wi-Fi to comply with government regulations. The handset will be 3G-capable, and the carrier said it will be subsidizing the smartphone.
Apple has been trying to get the iPhone into China for more than a year, and the iPhone's release should coincide with China Unicom's rollout of 3G networks. The wireless operator plans to have 3G coverage in 335 cities by the end of the year, and Apple's device could be a key driver of mobile data adoption.
source: unstrung
Apple has been trying to get the iPhone into China for more than a year, and the iPhone's release should coincide with China Unicom's rollout of 3G networks. The wireless operator plans to have 3G coverage in 335 cities by the end of the year, and Apple's device could be a key driver of mobile data adoption.
source: unstrung
India sets floor price for 3G, Wimax auctions
India has set the floor price for its long-awaited 3G spectrum auction, placing the minimum bid at 35 billion rupees ($717.5 million). The ministers have also set the Wimax auction floor price at 17.50 billion rupees. The government has also set a target of completing both the 3G and Wimax auctions within 90 days.
The group of ministers which set the prices has also declared that only five players will be allowed to offer 3G services in each of India's 22 telecom circles. Of these, one slot will be reserved for state-owned operators BSNL or MTNL. Initially up to seven 3G players would have been allowed to operate in each circle, but spectrum remains tight in several of the most populous circles.
source: telecomasia.net
The group of ministers which set the prices has also declared that only five players will be allowed to offer 3G services in each of India's 22 telecom circles. Of these, one slot will be reserved for state-owned operators BSNL or MTNL. Initially up to seven 3G players would have been allowed to operate in each circle, but spectrum remains tight in several of the most populous circles.
source: telecomasia.net
Shares rise in Alcatel-Lucent on Chinese whispers
Shares in the French/US vendor were up 16 percent on the Euronext exchange in Paris and up 11 percent on the NYSE, while Natixis - an analyst firm - lifted its rating on Alcatel-Lucent to 'buy' from 'reduce.' An Alcatel-Lucent spokesperson declined to comment on the developments. Chinese equipment vendors Huawei or ZTE are considered the most likely buyers.
source: GMBB
source: GMBB
Sony takes on Kindle with wireless reader
Japan's Sony has unveiled its first electronic reader with wireless connectivity in a bid to take on Amazon's popular Kindle device, reports Reuters. The Sony 'Daily Edition' will go on sale in the US in December and will use AT&T's 3G network for connectivity. It will cost US$399, US$100 more than Amazon's basic version of the Kindle.
Amazon's Kindle was launched in 2007 - a year after Sony's first reader - but has enjoyed a considerably higher profile. The device costs US$299 for the basic version and US$489 for a large screen version geared toward newspaper reading.
Sony is hoping that adding wireless connectivity to its readers will give it parity with Kindle, which works with Sprint's network. Users of earlier Sony readers have had to plug their device into a computer when it comes time to download content.
source: GMBB
Microsoft unveils apps service for low-end phones
Microsoft OneApp will allow feature phones to run mobile apps like Facebook, Twitter, Windows Live Messenger, and other popular applications and games. It is targeted at users in emerging markets that use feature phones that can connect to basic data services and install applications but have limited memory and processing capability.
OneApp uses 'cloud' services to help shift processing and storage weight from the phone to the Internet, which means is has a small 'on-phone' footprint of just 150KB.
source: GMBB
OneApp uses 'cloud' services to help shift processing and storage weight from the phone to the Internet, which means is has a small 'on-phone' footprint of just 150KB.
source: GMBB
AT&T improves 3G with move to 850MHz
US operator AT&T has reportedly begun rolling out 3G services in the 850MHz spectrum band with positive results from users. The company has previously operated 3G networks in the 1900MHz band, but the new spectrum has been freed up by the closure last year of its TDMA network. AT&T has not released specific details on the switchover, but reports suggest activation has already occurred in San Francisco, Atlanta and Las Vegas, amongst other areas.
source: GMBB
source: GMBB
Docomo expects Tata JV to become profitable in 3 years
NTT Docomo expects its Indian joint venture with Tata Teleservices (TTSL) to be profitable in three years and would consider further investment in the world's fastest-growing mobile market, according to an Economic Times report.
Docomo bought its stake in TTSL for US$2.7 billion last year with initial plans to invest US$2 billion in a new GSM network.
source: GMBB
Docomo bought its stake in TTSL for US$2.7 billion last year with initial plans to invest US$2 billion in a new GSM network.
source: GMBB
Windows Mobile 6.5 and Windows Mobile 7
Microsoft is expected to launch the next version of Windows Mobile - version 6.5 - on 1 October 2009 but will continue to develop the platform even after it launches the long-awaited Windows Mobile 7, which is scheduled to launch in the last quarter of the year. The reported roadmap will see Microsoft lower the price of 6.5 when Windows Mobile 7 arrives and will upgrade it with a touch interface in February 2010.
source: digitimes.com
source: digitimes.com
Nokia eyes growth in rural India
According to a Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report, the Finnish vendor plans to sell handsets in some rural Indian areas under a programme that allows the purchasers to pay in installments. The report notes that Nokia plans to roll out the installment scheme to sell its handsets in 12 Indian states after a pilot programme covering more than 2,500 villages in the southern states of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. The report adds that under the pilot programme a micro-finance organisation bought handsets from Nokia and sold them to women in rural areas by charging them INR100 (US$2) for up to 25 weeks.
source: GMBB
source: GMBB
KDDI aims LTE in 2012
Japan's second-largest operator KDDI revealed further plans for its launch of LTE networks, announcing Motorola (Motorola's first public order for LTE equipment) and NEC as suppliers of radio access (base station) kit and declaring commercial availability by December 2012. Trials are scheduled to begin in mid 2010. The network will be deployed in both 1.5GHz and 800MHz spectrum bands, with 96.5 percent of the country covered by the end of 2014. The operator also plans to launch LTE-equipped mobile phones in time for commercial launch. According to a Reuters report, KDDI will spend roughly JPY500 billion (US$5.3 billion) on its LTE technology.
In December the operator announced it had chosen Hitachi and Nortel as LTE vendors for its core network (before Nortel filed for bankruptcy protection).
source: GMBB
In December the operator announced it had chosen Hitachi and Nortel as LTE vendors for its core network (before Nortel filed for bankruptcy protection).
source: GMBB
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
iPhone hurts operators!
Strand Consult says not one of the operators analysed have increased their market share, revenue, or earnings as a result of introducing the iPhone, whilst some operators have even sent out profit warnings because of the device.
source: Strand Consult
source: Strand Consult
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